BioShock Infinite

BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter video game developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K. The third installment of the BioShock series, Infinite was released worldwide for the PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360, and OS X platforms in 2013. The game is set in the year 1912 and follows its protagonist, Booker DeWitt, who is sent to the airborne city Columbia to retrieve Elizabeth, a young woman held captive there. Elizabeth possesses the ability to manipulate “Tears” in the space-time continuum, and Booker and Elizabeth discover she is central to Columbia’s dark secrets. The player controls Booker DeWitt throughout the game, fighting enemies and scavenging supplies, while the computer-controlled Elizabeth provides assistance.

Description

BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter with role-playing elements. Infinite adapts the gameplay formula of BioShock, with weapons, powers, and upgrades often functioning similar as those in the earlier game, albeit named differently. The player may carry only two weapons at a time, and can collect other weapons and ammunition from defeated enemies or the environment.  In addition to guns and melee attacks, the player can use superpower-bestowing Vigors; these include the ability to shoot lightning, disable enemies by launching them into the air, or controlling enemies or machines. Vigors can also be laid on the ground as traps.  

Vigors require Salt, the equivalent of magic points, to power the abilities. Booker has health and a damage-absorbing shield; the shield automatically regenerates out of combat, while health must be replenished with medical kits or food. If Booker dies, the player revives in a safe area at the cost of money, while local enemies are also partially healed. Items called Gear grant passive abilities that can improve the player’s strength or damage resistance. Apiece of Gear attaches to one of four slots; only one piece of Gear can be affixed to a slot at a time, with extras stored in the player’s inventory. 

Player attributes can also be improved by finding Infusions, which upgrade the players’ shield, health, or Salt meters. The player is opposed by enemies representing the Founders and the Vox Populi. These foes range from normal infantry to Heavy Hitters, more formidable enemies that act as mini-bosses throughout the game. Armed automatons scattered throughout Columbia act as a security defense system for the city. Columbia is filled with large, open spaces that offer players freedom in how to approach enemy encounters. The city is traversed on foot or via the Sky-Line, a rail system that Booker and enemies ride via special hooks.

Booker can jump on, off, and between Sky-Line tracks at any time and fire one-handed weapons while riding them. The hook also serves as a melee weapon, capable of performing executions on weakened foes. Booker is aided throughout the game by Elizabeth, a computer-controlled non-player character. Elizabeth requires no protection and assists during combat by tossing helpful items to Booker as needed. She can also be directed to open Tears, bringing in items or pieces of the environment, such as medical kits or a ledge for higher ground. Elizabeth can pick locks using her hairpin to open doors or find useful items.

Cash, food, medical kits, ammunition and Salts can be found scattered throughout the game’s environments. Vending machines can be used to buy supplies and powerful upgrades for weapons and Vigors. Optional side-missions are also available, where the player must unlock safes or decode hidden ciphers; completing them rewards Booker with supplies and upgrades. Audio logs (Voxophones) and film projectors (Kinetoscopes) scattered through Columbia expand on the characters and events of the game. In July 1912, Booker DeWitt arrives in Columbia, where he is soon pursued by authorities who recognize him as a “False Shepherd” who is prophesied to attempt to corrupt Elizabeth and overthrow Columbia.

Freeing Elizabeth from her tower, Booker narrowly evades Songbird. Commandeering an airship, Booker lies that he will take Elizabeth to Paris; when she realizes they are going to New York City to fulfill Booker’s debts, Elizabeth knocks him unconscious and flees. Booker awakens to find the airship commandeered by Daisy Fitzroy, who offers to return the ship if Booker helps her arm the Vox Populi. Booker and Elizabeth reunite and join forces to secure weapons from a local gunsmith. Traveling through Tears, they arrive in a world where Booker is a Vox Populi martyr and open warfare has erupted in Columbia. Elizabeth kills Fitzroy to prevent her from killing a Founder boy.

Booker and Elizabeth regain control of the airship, however Songbird attacks as they attempt to flee and they crash back to the city. Elizabeth and Booker discover a conspiracy behind the city’s founding: Comstock, who had been rendered aged and infertile as a result of his frequent exposure to Tears, obtained Elizabeth from another reality and then killed his wife and the Luteces to hide the truth of the child’s origin, framing their deaths as assassinations. Comstock then isolated Elizabeth in Columbia, constructing a large Siphon to control her power. Elizabeth is recaptured by Songbird, and is tortured and brainwashed back into obedience to Comstock.

Pursuing her, Booker is brought forward in time to 1983 by an elderly Elizabeth as Columbia attacks New York City. The elderly Elizabeth returns Booker to 1912 with information on how to control Songbird, in hopes he can save her younger self. Booker rescues Elizabeth, and the pair pursue Comstock to his airship. Upon meeting Comstock, he demands that Booker explain Elizabeth’s past to her; an enraged Booker drowns Comstock in a baptismal font. Booker denies knowledge of Elizabeth’s past, but she asserts that he has simply forgotten. Booker and Elizabeth direct Songbird to destroy the Siphon, unleashing Elizabeth’s full powers.